Computers And Cryptic Crosswords

One of the debates that pops up from time to time is around cryptic crosswords and computers - and specifically whether a computer program can be written to create a good cryptic crossword.

Now, in this debate it is generally assumed that what is being talked about is whether the computer can create puzzles from a database of clues written by a human - it is generally agreed that a computer cannot write good cryptic clues: if you know of any then we would love to hear about them, so please let us know in the comments section.

But can a computer simply put together clues in the way that is often used for a quick crossword in order to make a good cryptic crossword puzzle?

Most people would say no, and the reason is that a setter will typically write some clues based on others in the grid, whereas a computer would fill a grid 'blind'. Most importantly, a good setter will look to have a balance of different clue types in a grid, whereas a computer just picking clues blindly would not be able to do this.

Others have countered that a computer could write a good puzzle by having different types of clue categorised and then ensuring a grid fill that has a good balance of clue types.

The defendants of the human creator would then say that the human setter will consider more things again - perhaps for instance using ellipsis clues that flow nicely together, or perhaps having a little theme running through the puzzle that a computer can't replicate, or again referring to another answer with several other answers in the grid.

This has been tried in the past - apparently a major British newspaper introduced cryptics created from a database of past clues once, but soon reversed the change after enough people complained that the quality of the puzzles fell. What would be a more interesting test is if a newspaper introduced computer compiled cryptics but didn't announce it, and see if anybody picked up on it.

What are your thoughts - can a computer create a good cryptic puzzle from human-written clues or not? Or perhaps you think a computer could even write the clues, if not now, then one day - please do share your thoughts below.Date written: 19 Mar 2015

Homophone Clues In Cryptic CrosswordsCryptic crossword clues, as you'll have seen through this series of blog posts, come in various distinct types, and the list we've covered is not even exhaustive!
One of the clue types that people often struggle with is the homophone clue, or...Added: 13 Apr 2015

Quick Crossword Solving TipsSolving a quick crossword is both straightforward and difficult. Difficult because, with many short clues, there are often multiple words that fit each answer until you have crossover letters in place, and straightforward in that the solving method does...Added: 30 Mar 2015

How Much Can You Sell Crosswords For?One of the most common questions that people have when they start writing crosswords, is what the going rate is.
However there is no clear answer, as it varies on so many different factors. These include:
- The grid size: generally the larger the...Added: 24 May 2015

Why Are Crosswords So Popular?One question that is often asked is why are crosswords so popular? The same question is also applied to the other famous word puzzle, the wordsearch, and also to the relative newcomer on the block in the world of logic puzzles (not number puzzles!) - the...Added: 08 Apr 2015

Codeword Solving ToolIf you want help with solving codewords, then there are various tips and techniques that you can use, as outlined on other blog entries here at Wordy Puzzle.
However, sometimes if you get completely stuck on a puzzle, then you might want some outside...Added: 18 Mar 2015